India, Nov. 7 -- A German climber is preparing for a rare winter challenge on Mount Everest that could make mountaineering history. Jost Kobusch, 34, is attempting to scale the world's highest peak solo, without supplemental oxygen, using the West Ridge route, which has never been successfully climbed in winter.

According to a Reuters report, Kobusch is heading to Nepal this week to prepare for the 8,849-metre ascent, which he hopes to make towards the end of December. If successful, he would achieve a first-of-its-kind winter ascent of Everest via the West Ridge, one of the mountain's challenging routes.

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